Cell adhesion molecule expression in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex in major depression in the elderly.

BACKGROUND Neuroimaging studies have demonstrated changes in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in major depression. AIMS We investigated the expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) in the prefrontal cortex in depression. METHOD Immunohistochemistry to localise CAMs in post-mortem tissue from 20 subjects with major depression and 20 controls, and image analysis to quantify their expression. RESULTS We found significant increases in CAMs in the grey matter of the DLPFC in the depression group but no comparable differences in the ACC or occipital cortex. In the white matter there was a non-significant increase in intercellular adhesion molecule-I in the DLPFC in the depression group but no increase in the other areas or for vascular cell adhesion molecule-I in any area. Paired tests showed specificity for the DLPFC in the depression group only. CONCLUSIONS The increase in CAM expression in the DLPFC suggests an inflammatory reaction and is consistent with ischaemia.